Rail-bender



(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 1. H. W. ARMSTRONG.

RAIL BENDBR. No. 527,100. Patented Oct. 9,1894.

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`(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.'4 H. W. ARMSTRONG. RAIL BENDER.

No. 527,100. .Patented Oct. 9,1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY W. ARMSTRONG, OF OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-BENoEn.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,100, dated October9, 1894.

Application tiled J' une 30, 1894. Serial No. 516,194. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY W. ARMSTRONG, of Oakmont, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Rail-Benders, of which the following is afull, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming part ofy this specification, in whichn Figure 1 is a top planview of my improved rail-bender applied to a rail. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of t-he same; and Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of amodified form.

My invention relates to the devices employed for bending street-railwayor other rails, and is designed to produce a bender which is more easilyapplied andy removed,

and does its work more eectually than former devices for this purpose.

In the drawings, 2 represents a casting, to the upper and lower faces ofwhich are secured the correspondingly curved plates 3 and 4, the ends ofwhich are designed to extend respectively above and below the rail to bebent. Through the casting 2 extends an innerly screw-threaded aperturein which ts the screw-shaft 5, provided at its out-er end with anAoperating head 6, having holes for the insertion of a lever, while toits inner end a block 7 is removably held by means of a pin 8. Each endof the upper plate terminates in a pair of vertical lugs' 9, betweenwhich is pivoted a bearing-block IO. Each block 10 is slotted for thepassage of the pivot pin, and is provided at its lower end with a lug 1Iarranged to enter a slot in the corresponding end of the lower plate.Both edges of the blocks lO are provided with projecting portions l2 and12 arranged to press against the web of the rail so that by removing thepivot-pin and reversing the block, it will it another form of rail.

The operation is apparent. The bender being slipped over the rail, theblocks lO are swung down and being lifted vertically, the slots, passingup over the pins, are dropped with their lugs in the slots of the lowerplates, thus securing the blocks in place. Pressure is then broughtasusual upon the intermediate portion of the rail by the screw-shaft 5.

In the modification of Figs. 3 and 4, the block l0 is removably held inposition by a Iiat pin I3 passing through registering slots in the blockand the upper and lower plates.

The blocks 10 and 7 may be removed and replaced with others as desiredto t the particular section of rail operated upon, and the block 10 maybe provided with a projection upon the opposite side as in the formercase.

The advantages of the invention are apparent. Instead of bringing thestrain upon the head of the rail and distorting its shape when pressureis brought thereon, the pressure comes upon the web or central portionof the rail. The device can be easily and quickly applied and removedand adjusted to tit different sections of rails, while its constructionis simple and compact.

Many changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement ofthe parts without departure from my invention;`since What I claim, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A rail-bender having plates arranged to extend above and below therail, bearingblocks held between the ends of the plates, and means forapplying pressure'to the rail between the bearing-blocks; substantiallyas described.

2. A rail-bender comprising plates extending above and below the rail,bearing-blocks pivoted in the ends of the upper plate and arranged to beremovably secured 'to the lower plate, and a screw-shaft for applyingpressure to the rail; substantially as described.

3. A rail-bender comprising plates extending above and below the rail,bearing-blocks having slots through which extend pivot-pins upon theupper plates, the end-portions of the lower plates being slotted toreceive the lower ends of the bearing blocks, and ascrew-shaft forapplying pressure; substantially as described. Y

4. A rail-bender comprising a casting having a screw-threaded shaftpassing therethrough, curved plates secured thereto and arranged toextend above and below the rail, and removable bearing-blocks held intheir outer ends; substantially as described.`

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY WARMSTRONG.

Witnesses:

W. B. CoRwIN, H. M. CORWIN.

IOO

